In this guest post, the procurement knowledge base developer at DeltaBid, the e-sourcing solution for transparent RFP processes, Hillary Ohlmann, explains the 5 ways you can improve your soft skills to become a Procurement Ambassador.
High emotional intelligence and the accompanying soft skills are what make good leaders stand out. Mastering them, or not, can mean the difference between moving up at work or… well, not. Procurement as a function is becoming more collaborative and customer-centric, and those soft skills are a necessity for developing relationships with suppliers and demonstrating Procurement’s value to the C-suite.
There’s a great quote from Sigi Osagie that demonstrates just how important soft skills are in procurement: “It is our attitudes and behaviours at an individual level that shape the culture in Procurement.
So are you a ‘Procurement Ambassador’ or a ‘Procurement Assassin’?”
Think about it. Are you a procurement ambassador or a procurement assassin? How do you want others to see you? Are you helping or harming the function? Is your lack of soft skills holding you or your department back?
The road to mastering soft skills is challenging and highly personal, but here are few steps to help you get started.
Five Ways to Improve Your Soft Skills on the Job
- Find a mentor
If you don’t already have a mentor, get one. If your company offers a mentoring program, take advantage of it. Reach out to someone you admire and whose attitude and behaviour you’d like to emulate. LinkedIn can be a great resource for connecting with potential mentors.
- Polish your public speaking skills
Public speaking causes many professionals great anxiety, regardless of whether they’re speaking in front of five people or 50. You may have more experience working one-on-one or in small teams. However, you may still be judged on how effectively you present yourself and your message to a group. Besides taking a public speaking course, you could also join Toastmasters or offer to present findings at the next stakeholder meeting.
- Volunteer
Volunteering, both inside and outside of the workplace, accomplishes two important things: it increases empathy and demonstrates positivity. Volunteering outside the workplace can help increase empathy by giving you the chance to work with people you may not encounter on a daily basis. Volunteering for new projects or tasks at work also shows you’re a proactive team player who’s willing to do what it takes to get the job done.
4. T.H.I.N.K. before you speak
T.H.I.N.K. is a helpful acronym that you can use as a guide for office communications. It stands for true, helpful, informative, necessary, and kind. Offhand and off-colour comments and emails can influence how others see you. Remind yourself to T.H.I.N.K. before you speak up or hit send.
5. Observe and reflect
Most importantly, improving your soft skills requires self-observation and reflection. Take the time to pause and observe what you feel throughout the day. Do you feel anxious before a meeting? Do you feel angry after arguing with a co-worker? Do you feel a sense of accomplishment after achieving a goal? Jot down your emotions and what caused them. Then, at the end of the day, take a few minutes to reflect. How could that situation have been handled differently? How would you like to deal with it next time? Processing your emotions will lead to greater self-awareness and help you identify areas for improvement.
This thought-provoking blog, "ARE YOU A PROCUREMENT AMBASSADOR OR PROCUREMENT ASSASSIN?" delves into the intricacies of the oracle fusion procurement training profession, challenging professionals to reflect on their approach and impact. The dichotomy between being a procurement ambassador or assassin sets the stage for a meaningful exploration of the skills and mindset necessary for success in this dynamic field.
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